Setting Feb 16, want to join in>Hatch-Along

[gryeyes]

Well, I can tell I am the oddball here; I candle twice during incubation. First time at day 10 or 12, and last time at lockdown.

I don't like being disappointed more than I need to be, so I only look into the eggs those two times. It bums be out when eggs don't develop, or quit. I always approach each of my hatches with the assumption nothing will hatch - so I get thrilled with one live hatchling and ecstatic if two or more chicks hatch.

Each living chick is a miracle. It thrills me to bring them into the world, Goddess willing.

 

[frankensusan]

Yeah Linda, I candled tonight and got sad because I "only" saw three that for sure are developing, then I was stoked 3 are for sure developing!... But I really don't cull eggs until the very end because I don't think I'm that great at candling. Mostly I have to keep occupied doing something else. Today it was dental work and sleep....So that ate up the day. I love the miracle of watching them hatch and the surprise of them hatching when my back is turned..
Almost time for last turn of the night.
Sleep well everyone!
Susan

 

[MommaSampson]

Last time I only candled 3 times but last night I just wanted to see about a few of them and ended up doing all of them.

 

[hokankai]

Just candled and looks like it's going to be a bust. 12/48 for sure developing. 20 of those were to test for fertility so that's no surprise, but 4/13 shipped are developing, 3/9 LOCAL cochin eggs are fertile, and NONE of the local bantam polish eggs are fertile. Aren't you supposed to check fertility before you sell eggs? *sigh* really disappointed :\

 

[gryeyes]

Just candled and looks like it's going to be a bust. 12/48 for sure developing. 20 of those were to test for fertility so that's no surprise, but 4/13 shipped are developing, 3/9 LOCAL cochin eggs are fertile, and NONE of the local bantam polish eggs are fertile. Aren't you supposed to check fertility before you sell eggs? *sigh* really disappointed :\

Well, it IS hard to check unless you either do a test hatch or crack some to check for the fertilized bulls- eye.

This is one of the reasons I just don't candle very much, the disappointment sucks.

 

[hokankai]

That's what I mean, the cochin eggs that were infertile were definitely from a certain hen, whereas the fertile ones were from another. If she had cracked a few eggs open before collecting she would have known her hens weren't getting mated with and would have at least let me know. The polish eggs were a real bummer too and I would have rather her tell me she wasn't seeing fertilized eggs and not bought them than buying them and getting my hopes up.

The disappointment is the same whether I candle often or not, just gotta rip the Band-aid off at some point.

 

[heyheypaula]

Help! I candled again today and I'm afraid that I am in for some disappointment as well... It doesn't seem like very many of my eggs are developing! I can't really tell with the Marans because the shell is so dark which is very frustrating. These eggs are all day 6. What do you all make of this? Do I have a bunch of blood rings?

The belgian antwerp quail from yesterday that I think is a day 3 or 4 quitter?

I cracked open one of my belgian antwerp quail eggs that had a little tiny seepage and this is what poured out...

I don't know what went wrong! I have been running my incubator for days before I set the eggs at a steady temp & humidity (99-100 & 30-40%) and while the eggs have been set and I cleaned the incubator and have been using distilled water! I am kicking myself because the cartons I used to set the eggs in are just old grocery store cartons. I spritzed them with some cleaner but maybe it's still a bacterial source? I am so disappointed!

 

[frankensusan]

I see veins, especially on #3. but I'm no expert! I would give them more time, at day 6 they may still be on the slow end of the curve. I candle to take notes on the changes, if nothing is changing after the first 14 days I consider culling if smelly. But it's been a while. This is my first time weighing! So it's all new again.

Susan

Help! I candled again today and I'm afraid that I am in for some disappointment as well... It doesn't seem like very many of my eggs are developing! I can't really tell with the Marans because the shell is so dark which is very frustrating. These eggs are all day 6. What do you all make of this? Do I have a bunch of blood rings?










The belgian antwerp quail from yesterday that I think is a day 3 or 4 quitter?


I cracked open one of my belgian antwerp quail eggs that had a little tiny seepage and this is what poured out...

I don't know what went wrong! I have been running my incubator for days before I set the eggs at a steady temp & humidity (99-100 & 30-40%) and while the eggs have been set and I cleaned the incubator and have been using distilled water! I am kicking myself because the cartons I used to set the eggs in are just old grocery store cartons. I spritzed them with some cleaner but maybe it's still a bacterial source? I am so disappointed!

 

[heyheypaula]

I suppose I do just have to be patient... It's so hard! I'm so nervous that none will hatch! ::fingers crossed::

 

[DraigAthar]

Yeah I am usually a compulsive candler, too, haha! But on this hatch I won't candle as much simply because I am not doing the incubation. My two broody girls are in charge. I will candle around day 10 so I can remove any that aren't developing, just to prevent a rotten one bursting or something icky like that. But I don't dare disturb them too much, they are both first-time mommas so I want them to figure it all out without me unsettling them to much.